Chapter 178- Thirteen Years Ago

Lucien Volkov:

Arabella was fast asleep beside me, with one hand resting near her face. I had been watching her for a while now, trying to figure out what was bothering her.

Something had changed. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but she’d been unusually quiet today. She had barely spoken to her friends, and Maya had complained that Arabella wasn’t answering her calls.

Then there was her visit to my mother’s office. One of the guards had mentioned it to me earlier. Apparently, she’d spent quite some time there.

What could those two possibly have to discuss?

I knew my mother well enough to be concerned, especially after everything she’d put Arabella through. But I also knew Arabella wouldn’t appreciate me questioning her every move.

She was finally beginning to make decisions for herself, and I didn’t want her to feel as though she had to explain everything to me. That included her decision to drop Anika’s case.

Still, I wished she’d tell me what was troubling her.

A few strands of silver hair had fallen across her cheek. I gently brushed them aside and leaned down to kiss her forehead, letting my lips rest there a little longer than necessary.

She stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. I was about to settle beside her when my phone began vibrating on the nightstand.

Oh, for Goddess’s sake.

I’d already lowered the volume so it wouldn’t disturb her, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Bradley’s name appeared on the screen.

I answered quietly. "What is it?"

"Lucien, there’s some disturbance in the Queen’s quarters."

"What kind of disturbance?"

"I can hear crying, and someone screaming. It sounds like they’re having a serious argument in there."

I glanced at Arabella, who was still sleeping peacefully. "Then find out what’s happening."

"I was going to, but I think you should come with me. It’s getting out of hand, and I’d rather not walk into your mother’s private quarters without you."

I made a face. Those women were very much capable of handling their issues themselves. They didn’t need me at all.

Of all the nights for my family to create a scene, they had to choose this one. "Fine. I’ll be there."

I ended the call and carefully got out of bed, making sure not to disturb Arabella. After putting on a shirt, I took one last look at her before leaving the room. Two royal guards were stationed outside.

"Don’t let anyone enter my chambers," I instructed them. "And if Arabella wakes up and needs anything, call me immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness." One of them bowed, and I headed toward my mother’s quarters.

I could hear the argument before I even reached the door. "How could you do this, Mother?" Amy was practically shouting. "She’s supposed to be your daughter-in-law! You can’t just throw her into prison!"

I exchanged a glance with Bradley, who was waiting outside. He gave me a helpless look. I pushed the door open.

Amy was standing in front of my mother, her face red with anger. My mother, on the other hand, looked remarkably calm. She was sitting in her chair, examining her nails as though Amy was discussing something as ordinary as the weather.

"What happened?" I demanded. Amy spun around.

"Lucien! Thank Goddess you’re here."

My mother briefly looked up at me before returning to her nails.

"Would someone mind telling me what’s going on?"

"Mother had Jasmine arrested!" Aliya exclaimed as she got up from the couch.

I looked at Amy in surprise and she nodded as if confirming what I’d just heard. "For giving you poison three years ago! Can you believe it? She’s had Jasmine thrown into prison over something that happened years ago!"

My attention shifted to my mother. "You had Jasmine arrested?"

"Yes," she replied casually. I hadn’t expected that answer.

For three years, my mother had defended Jasmine whenever her name came up. She’d insisted that Jasmine was innocent, that Arabella had misunderstood everything, and that we should leave the past alone.

And now she’d ordered her arrest? "Do you have proof against her?" I asked.

"I have a witness." I stared at her because I knew who it was. My mother finally stopped examining her nails and looked at me properly.

"Arabella told me that Jasmine gave her the potion to mix into your food. That’s enough reason to have the matter investigated, don’t you think?"

I didn’t answer immediately. Of course, I knew about the poison. Arabella had already told me what happened three years ago. What I couldn’t understand was why my mother had suddenly decided to act on it.

The same woman who’d spent years protecting Jasmine had now ordered her imprisonment based on Arabella’s word alone.

Something wasn’t right.

***

"Lucien? You came?"

The moment Jasmine spotted me standing outside her cell, she jumped to her feet and rushed toward the iron bars, gripping them with both hands.

"Look what your mother has done to me!"

I stood there without saying anything, taking in her appearance. Her face was swollen, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying. I’d rarely seen Jasmine in such a state.

"Lucien, please. You have to believe me." She tightened her grip on the bars. "Your mother thinks I killed Zorro, but that’s not true. I didn’t do it!"

When I didn’t respond, Jasmine slowly fell quiet. She studied my face for a moment, as though searching for some sign that I believed her.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" she whispered. "Do you also think I gave you that poison?"

For the first time in a long while, I felt Zorro’s anger stir inside me. I wanted to hear what Jasmine had to say for herself.

"Then who gave it to Arabella, if it wasn’t you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Lucien..." She reached through the bars, trying to touch my arm. I moved back before her fingers could reach me.

"I’m innocent."

"Then prove it in court, Jasmine. My word won’t save you from a trial." I looked her straight in the eyes. "Unless there’s something else, you’re afraid we’ll find out."

"Thirteen years ago, someone died because of you, Jasmine, and you got away with it. Don’t expect that to happen again."